Banner mounting device



"FeB.17,197o H. J. GILIMOURE 3,495,346.

BANNER MOUNTING DEVICE Filed June '7, 1968 INVENTOR. HAROLD J, GILMOl/RE ATTORNEYS,

United States Patent 3,495,346 BANNER MOUNTING DEVICE Harold J. Gilmoure, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to Sales Promotion Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 7, 1968, Ser. No. 735,422 Int. Cl. G09f 7/22, 7/18 U.S. Cl. 40128 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved device for mounting banners, signs, and the like, on posts, poles, and the like, in which the tension members which are disposed within pockets formed in and at opposite ends of the banner and which are flexible in all directions about their support are first disposed within a U-shaped, laterally flexible envelope or sheath. The envelope or sheath provides improved protection for the banner against concentration of excessive strains and load without significant loss of flexibility in all directions and also provides means for couplingbanners on opposite sides of the pole together, in pairs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to new and improved apparatus and means for mounting display banners, advertising signals, posters, and the like, on posts, upright poles or supports.

Description of the prior art This invention is an improvement on the banner mounting apparatus disclosed and claimed in Gilmoure et al., United States Patent No. 3,263,356 of which Harold J. Gilmoure, the inventor hereof, was co-inventor and an improvement on the prior art as described in said United States patent.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The general object of this invention is to provide a new, improved, more efiicient, effective and economical means and apparatus for mounting display banners, posters, signs, and the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide new and improved means and apparatus for mounting display banners, posters, signs, and the like, which is more efficient in operation, more effective for mounting and protecting the banners and more economical to manufacture, assemble and use than apparatus previously known.

Still further objects of this invention include the provision of new and improved apparatus and means for mounting display banners, posters, signs, and the like, which provides improved and increased protection for the banner against strain and stress, which is reusable in the same or other banners yet permits the banner to yield and bend, with increasing resistance, to wind and other forces which may be exerted thereon and the provision of such means and apparatus which facilitates uniting banners, and the like, mounted on opposite sides of a single pole, post or support, together, in pairs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus and means for mounting display banners, posters, signs, and the like, obtaining one or more of the objects and advantages set forth above. These and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description of preferred forms thereof.

3,495,346 Patented Feb. 17, 1970 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Advertising banners, posters or signs of the type with which this invention relates are usually mounted in parallel pairs on poles extending therebetween and face in opposite directions. Such display banners, posters or signs are used extensively, outside, on upright sign-supporting or light poles in gasoline filling stations and similar locations, where their double faces are visible to traflic approaching from either direction.

This invention comprises means and apparatus for detachably mounting a display banner, poster or sign on a post or pole and/ or a pair of display banners, posters or signs on a post or pole extending therebetween. Broadly, the preferred form of this invention comprises an improvement on apparatus including transversely extending metal braces carried at opposite edges of the banner, and having vertical sliding engagement with hangers mounted on the pole, in which the braces are tensioned longitudinally and have lateral flexibility so that the banner is yieldingly supported in longitudinal tension and is yieldingly resistant to lateral bending forces exerted thereon. The improvement comprises a thin, flexible envelope or sheath adapted to surround and receive the brace to further protect the banner and obtain the objects of this invention and to provide, in its preferred form, improved means for uniting back-to-back banners in pairs.

More particularly, mounting apparatus embodying a preferred form of this invention and the banner mounted thereby are shown generally at 1 in FIGURE 1 together with the pole 2 upon which the banner is mounted. The banner is made from poster cloth, paper, fabric or other flexible material and a suitable message or advertising sign is painted or otherwise applied to the exposed face thereof.

The mounting apparatus, as shown, includes means to support or mount the banner 4 in resilient longitudinal tension while yieldingly, resiliently and increasingly resisting the effect of forces or pressures exerted on the sides of the banner, from wind, weather, impact or other cause, and tending to bend or twist the banner about the pole 2.

Such means includes a pair of transversely extending brace members 5, FIGURE 2, disposed at or near the opposite edges 7 and 8, respectively, of the banner 4 and engaging the banner so as to exert a tension thereon when the banner is mounted as shown in FIGURE 1.

Each brace 5 preferably comprises a bent and shaped wire member having a central handle 10, and transversely extending arms 11 and 13, respectively, FIGURE 2. Handle 10 includes a base portion 14 and sides 16 and 17, respectively.

Sides 16 and 17 extend from base 14 toward the center of banner 4 and arms 11 and 13- extend angularly from the ends of side members 16 and 17, respectivel emote from base 14. The angles between base portion 14 and sides 16 and 17 of handle 10 are preferably substantially less than to the end that the angles between sides 16 3 and .17 and arms 11 and 13, respectively, are greater than 90 and preferably of the order of about 130 in order to reduce the strain on the brace and prevent or minimize breakage at the junctures between the sides and arms, respectively, of brace 5, due to lateral or bending forces exerted on the banner and brace during use. Further, arms 11 and 13 extend from the ends of sides 16 and 17 in the direction away from the center of banner 4 at such an angle that the arms are substantially parallel with the adjacent edges of the banner when the mounting device is assembled and in use, as shown, and tension is being exerted on the banner by the force by which the braces 5 seek to return to their at rest condition.

In order to provide for convenient and efiicient engagement between the braces 5 and banner 4, as well as for easy exchange and interchange of new or different banners while utilizing the same braces 5, the edges 7 and 8 of banner 4 preferably comprise or are provided with transversely extending pockets or sleeves 25, see FIG- URES 1 and 3. The pockets preferably have open ends and are cut out or notched, as at 26, to provide an opening through which handle 10 of the respective brace 5 extends, to engage the adjacent hanger, when the banner is mounted.

Arms 11 and 13 of braces 5 are resilient both longitudinally and laterally about the side members 16 and 17 of handle 10 and so both tension the banner, when mounted as shown in the drawings, and resist twist ng or bending of the banner about the pole 2 with increasing resistance, as the bending or twisting force increasingly bends or tends to bend the arms 11 and 13 in a horizontal plane.

In order to support the braces 5 and provide f r tensioning the same upon installation or mounting of the banner, hangers 28 are mounted on the pole 2 outwardly, upwardly and downwardly, respectively as viewed, of the banner edges 7 and 8. Each hanger 28 is secured to pole 2 by suitable means such as strap 30. Strap 30 surrounds pole 2 and is tightened in p sition by any suitable means.

Hanger 28 holds handle 10 so as to provide for limited longitudinal movement or displacement of the handle 10 in order to facilitate erection of the banner and provide for limited longitudinal play or expansion of the banner and mounting apparatus while precluding accidental disengagement of the handle .10 from the hanger 28 and conveniently and preferably takes the shape and structure of the hanger shown in United States Patent No. 3,263,356.

All of the above is old in the art and, per se, forms no part of the present invention.

In order to obtain the objects and advantages of this invention and to further protect the banner against deleterious effects from the action of the brace and the wind and forces exerted on the banner, yet retain the flexibility of the brace to respond in all directions to and increasingly resist the external forces exerted on the banner and brace, banner mounting apparatus, embodying this invention, also comprises, in addition to the brace 5, and suitable attachment means, such as hanger 28 and strap 30, a flexible envelope or sheath which is adapted to be disposed within the pocket 25, or corresponding portion, of the banner, and in which brace means, such as brace 5, is disposed before insertion in or mounting on the banner 4.

As shown, sheath 35, is substantially U-shaped having a central or base portion 36 which is disposed at the outermost, relative to the center of the banner, portion of the sheath when the sheath is inserted in the banner and two dependent, substantially parallel leg portions 38, see FIG. URE 2, which are flexible about a longitudinal axis of and relative to the base 36 of the sheath and flex inwardly toward each other in response to comprehensive forces exerted by the pocket as the banner is stressed and strained by winds and other external forces, to protect the banner. Sheath 35 may be formed of any suitable material, having the desired flexibility and characteristics, such as metal or plastic, to provide the desired thin, flexible body member.

In order to provide for passage of the handle 10 of the brace 5 through the sheath so that the handle may engage the hanger portion of the attachment means and in order to provide flexibility of the sheath about an axis transverse of the base 36 and parallel with the legs 38, sheath 35 is notched or cut out at its center, as at 39. Notch 39 includes base 36 and a portion of each leg 38 suflicient to provide the desired flexibility. The notch 39 is of suiiicient length to permit the handle of the brace, which is to be used in the sheath 35, to extend therethrough with ease.

Also, in its preferred form, sheath 35 is made somewhat longer than the width of the banner with which it is to be used so that it extends outwardly from both lateral edges 41 and 42 (as opposed to the opposite edges 7 and 8) of the banner 4 and an aperture 44 is provided in each leg portion 38 of sheath 35 so as to be outwardly of the banner 4. Apertures 44 receive a tie, as at 45, FIGURE 1, so that two back-to-back banners, mounted on opposite sides of a pole, may be tied together so as to respond in unison and as a unit to external forces acting thereupon.

Sheath 35 may be made of a length substantially equal to the width of the banners with which it is to be used and the apertures 44 omitted when there is no desire to tie sheaths of adjacent or back to back banners together.

Also, the length of legs 38 of sheath 35 and the size of pocket 25 the banner are preferably such that the sheath has a free but close sliding fit within the pocket, so that the sheath may be easily inserted therein yet will not have significant play when in position. Further, both sheath 35 (legs 38) and pocket 25 must have suflicient depth tie. size in the direction in which the tension is exerted by the interaction of the brace handle and the attachment means) to permit the brace, including the handle, to be disposed within the sheath and slide therewith into the pocket when the brace is in an at rest condition.

The notches 39 and 26 in sheath 35 and pocket 25, respectively, are aligned when the banner and mounting apparatus are assembled and the banner is mounted as shown, for example, in FIGURE 1.

A pair of spaced hangers and straps may be left mounted on the pole 2 through many changes of banners by merely disengaging the braces 5 from the hangers, taking down the banner, removing the braces from the pockets of the old banner and inserting them in the respective pockets of the new banner and 161Il0ll1'ltlllg the banner as herein described.

In use the banner is formed to size and provided with the pockets 25 and the desired sign or message. At the display site the straps 30 are threaded through the upper and lower hangers 28 so that the hangers open away from each other and the straps are then mounted on the pole, in proper longitudinally spaced relationship, in the manner described above.

The braces 5 are disposed in the sheaths 35 which are, in turn, inserted in the respective pockets 25 with the handles extending outwardly from the respective edges through the notches 39 and 26. The handle 10 of the upper brace 5 is then positioned in the upper hanger 28 and the handle 10 of the lower brace 5 is then pulled downwardly and inserted in the hanger 28. The banner is then mounted as shown in FIGURE 1.

When, as is customary, it is desired to mount two similar banners in parallel relationship so that the sign or message is visible from both directions two hangers are mounted on each strap 30 on opposite sides of the pole 2, see FIGURE 1, and the second banner 4 is otherwise mounted in the same manner as the first and the adjacent sheaths 35 are tied together by means of apertures 44 and ties 45, as described above.

Modifications, changes and improvements to the preferred forms of the invention herein particularly disclosed and described may occur to those skilled in the art who come to understand the principles and precepts thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the patent issued hereon on should not be limited to the specific forms of the invention herein particularly illustrated, disclosed and described but only consistent with the advance by which the invention has promoted the art.

I claim:

1. In the combination of a display banner, a pole, and apparatus for mounting said banner on said pole, said banner having oposite edges with transversely extending pockets, having central notches, thereat, said apparatus comprising a bent and shaped wire brace having a central handle portion and transversely extending arm portions and attachment means, said attachment means including hanger means and strap means detachably secured to said pole with respective strap means being disposed a predetermined distance from said opposite edges of said banner, respectively, each said strap means supporting a respective hanger means in fixed position relative to said pole, and each said hanger means and adjacent handle portion interengaging and coacting to provide a tensioned mounting for said banner, the improvement that said combination includes a sheath disposed about said brace in each said pocket, said sheath having a substantially U-shape, with a base disposed toward the adjacent hanger means and substantially parallel legs extending from each side of said base portion in a direction away from said adjacent hanger means, a notch in said base and legs of each said sheath and being a suificient length to receive said handle portion of said brace, said sheath being flexible in the region of said notch therein about an axis perpendicular to said base and parallel with said legs and said legs of said sheath being flexible about their juncture, respectively, with said base.

2. The banner mounting apparatus according to claim 1 in which said sheath comprises a thin, flexible body member formed in said U-shape.

3. The banner mounting device according to claim 1 in which said banner has lateral edges extending perpendicular to said opposed edges and said sheath extends outwardly of said lateral edges, respectively, and an aperture in each said leg in each said outwardly extension of said sheath.

4. The banner mounting device according to claim 3, in which two said banners are mounted on opposite sides of said pole, and tie means extends through the adjacent said apertures in adjacent sheaths in said banner, said tie means holding and retaining said lateral edges of said banners in juxtaposition.

5. In the combination of banner means, having parallel, spaced apart edges, pole means, and apparatus for mounting said banner means on said pole means, said apparatus including brace means carried by said banner means adjacent each said edge, respectively, and means mounted on said pole means and engaging each said brace means intermediate the ends thereof and tensioning and securing said banner means on said pole means, said brace means being flexible and resilient in all directions on each side of said engagement with said securing means and bending with, cushioning and modulating the effect, in any direction, of external forces exerted against said banner means, the improvement that said combination includes sheath means carried by said banner means adjacent each said edge and being disposed about each said brace means, said sheath means having a substantially U-shape with a base portion disposed toward the adjacent hanger means and substantially parallel leg portions extending from each side thereof in a direction away from said adjacent edge, a notch in said base and leg portions of said sheath means of suflicient length to receive said handle means of said brace means, said sheath means being flexible in the region of said notch therein about an axis perpendicular to said base portion and parallel with said leg portion and said leg portion being flexible about their juncture, respectively, With said base portion.

6. The combination according to claim 5 in which said banner means include pocket means adjacent said edges respectively, and said sheath means containing said brace means is disposed therein and has a free but close fit therewith, said leg portion of said sheath means having a length and each said pocket having a depth, both in the direction extending between said edges, no less than the overall height of said brace means.

7. The combination according to claim 5 in which said sheath means comprises a thin, flexible body member formed in said U-shape.

8. The combination according to claim 5 in which said banner means has lateral edges extending perpendicular to said opposed edges, said sheath means extends outwardly of said lateral edges, respectively, and aperture is provided in each said leg portion of sheath means in each said outwardly extension of said sheath means.

9. The combination according to claim 8, in which two said banner means are mounted on opposite sides of said pole, and tie means extend through the adjacent said apertures in adjacent said sheath means, said tie means holding and retaining said lateral edges of said banner means in juxtaposition.

10. The combination according to claim 5 in which said banner means has lateral edges extending perpendicular to said opposed edges, said sheath means extends outwardly of said lateral edges, respectively, two said banner means are mounted on opposite sides of said pole, and means for joining adjacent said outwardly extensions of said sheath means together to hold and retain said lateral edges of said banner means in juxtaposition.

11. In mounting apparatus for mounting display banner means having opposed edges on a pole, said apparatus comprising brace means having a central handle portion to be carried on said banner means adjacent said edges, respectively, and means detachably engaging each said brace means intermediate its ends for detachably securing said brace means, respectively, to said pole, said brace means being resilient horizontally and longitudinally in all directions relative to said engagement With said securing means, said securing means tensioning said brace means longitudinally when said brace means are engaged thereby and said securing means are spaced a predetermined distance apart, said brace means comprising a central handle portion and transversely extending arm portions, the improvement that said combination includes sheath means for receiving and disposed about said brace means, said sheath means having a substantially U-shaped body member with a base and substantially parallel legs extending from each side thereof in the same direction, a notch in said base and legs of said sheath means of sufiicient length to receive said handle means of said brace means, said sheath means being flexible in the region of said notch about an axis perpendicular to said base and parallel with said legs and said legs being flexible about their juncture, respectively, with said base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,764,830 10/ 1956 Frey. 3,263,356 8/1966 Gilmoure. 3,310,899 3/1967 Hart et al. 40-128 X EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner W. I. COUNTRERAS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 40-145 

